Flexible fabric composed of rigid interconnected links



H. REINSTEIN 2, 6 96 FLEXIBLE FABRIC COMPOSED OF RIGID INTERCONNECTED LINKS Filed Feb. 1, 1947 WI! l I 20 24 a2 14 12 271 22 A1] e 12 3'2 0 H i h IVENTO Ham y ein-S n a ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1949 FLEXIBLE FABRIC COMPOSED OF RIGID INTERCONNECTED LINKS Harry Reinstein, Rye, N. Y., assignor to Reinad Novelty Co. Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1947, Serial No. 725,867

3 Claims.

This invention relates to mesh fabrics of close construction, i. e., fabrics composed of comparatively rigid links having little free space or clearance between the links but which nevertheless are relatively flexible and are therefore eminently suitable for use in the manufacture of ladies hand bags such as the well-known mesh bags and other mesh-like items. This invention comprehends such fabrics made from metal as well as plastic links, the individual links being rigid but the assembly, as above indicated, being flexible.

Jewelry bracelets and chains, such for example as the well-known basket weave type of construction, which are flexible in one direction, namely along the lines of jointure between contiguous links are well known. To the best of my knowledge and belief, prior to this invention, it has not been possible to produce a mesh fabric of close construction from rigid links using the techniques employed in making such bracelets or chains without the use of additional wire connecting members to join contiguous rows of links to form a fabric of the necessary width for use in producing a mesh bag or other desired article. The use of such wire connectors greatly increases the labor involved in producing the fabric, frequently introduces points of weakness into the resultant fabric and results in a fabric which does not have the desired close characteristics.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mesh-like fabric from individual rigid links and connector members, which fabric is flexible and of close construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide such mesh fabric, the individual links of which can readily be stamped by a simple stamping operation, from metal, or molded from plastic molding compounds, which fabric requires but two sizes of links and a simple connector to form same and which links and connectors can readily be assembled even by relatively unskilled labor to produce a mesh fabric of close construction and of any desired length and width and having substantially parallel sides.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed de scription thereof.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and showing, for purposes of exemplification, preferred forms of this invention without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrative instances;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale (approximately four times actual size) showing a mesh fabric employing the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view on a scale of approximately one-half the scale of Figure 1, showing a mesh fabric which has twice as many links in each vertical row forming the width of the fabric as in the case of the fabric of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the fabric of Figure 1, but showing the reverse side of the fabric relative to that shown in Figure 1. The side shown in Figure 1 is the side intended to be exposed to view. When the fabric is used, for example, in producing a mesh bag, the side shown in Figure 1 will form the outside of the bag, whereas that shown in Figure 3 will be on the inside of the bag;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on a still larger scale than Figure 1 and taken in a plane passing through line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the relatively long links employed in producing the mesh fabric of this invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the short links employed in producing the mesh fabric of this invention:

Figure 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing the underside of a connector member with the lateral arms in folded position; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a connector member showing the lateral arms in the extended or unfolded position.

In producing the mesh fabric of this invention but two types of links are required, one a relatively long link shown in perspective in Figure 5 and the other one-half the size of this long link shown in perspective in Figure 6. The long link is indicated on the drawing by reference character A. It will be noted from Figure 5 it consists of an intermediate preferably regular hexagonal portion I0 and two semi-hexagonal portions II and I2, each one-half the size of portion Ill. The semi-hexagonal portions I I and I2 have their top and bottom edges I3 and I4 respectively defined by horizontal straight lines which are coincident with the top and bottom edges of the link. Semi-hexagonal portions II and I2 are substantially equally spaced from the hexagonal portion I0; semi-hexagonal portion II is connected to hexagonalportion III by a pair of vertically extending parallel connector bars I5, I8 and the hexagonal portion In is connected with the semi-hexagonal portion I2 by a second pair of spaced parallel bars I'I, I8 which are in longitudinal alignment with the bars I5 and IS.

The short link is indicated by the reference character 3. As shown in Figure 6. it consists of two semi-hexagonal portions 19 and 20 connected by longitudinally extending parallel connector bars 2!, 22. Semi-hexagonal portion N has its upper edge 23 extending in a horizontal straight line and defining the top edge of the link B. Semi-hexagonal portion 20 has its lower edge 26 extending in a horizontally extending straight line and defining the lower edge of the link B. Link B is approximately one-half the size of link A; if link A were divided into links by a line extending through the transverse median of this link, two links, each corresponding to link B, would be produced.

The connector members for securing contiguous links in contiguous rows are identified by the reference character C and are shown in Figures 7 and 8. Each connector member comprises a preferably regular hexagonal portion of substantially the same size and shape as hexagonal portion Ill of link A. Extending laterally from the sides 26, 21 of the hexagonal portion 25 are connector arms 28, 29 respectively. These arms are adapted to be folded or formed about the contiguous connector bars of contiguous links in contiguous vertical rows to join the links into a mesh fabric of close construction as hereinafter more fully explained. When folded, the arms are in the position shown in Figures 4 and 7.

The links A, B and the connector member C may be formed from flat metal stock such as nickel, copper, brass, or, if desired, from a precious metal, e. g., gold, silver, platinum or metal alloys. etc., by a simple die-punching operation, as well known in the art, to produce indented or raised hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portions connected by the connector bars in the case of the links A and B and the hexagonal connector members having laterally extending connector arms in the case of connector C. Alternatively, the links and connector members may be formed by molding plastic materials into the desired shape; in the case of the connector members a'plastic which when subjected to heat may be flexed and upon cooling resumes its rigid set condition may desirably be used. Cellulose acetate, polyvinyl or other plastic which can be molded or otherwise shaped to produce the links or the connector members may be used. If desired the links may be of a suitable plastic and the connector members of metal or vice versa. It will be understood the invention is not limited to the use of any particular metal, plastic or other material.

To produce the mesh fabric of this invention, the links A, B and connector C are arranged, as shown for example in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figures 1 and 3 show a fabric of a width equal to twice the width of one of the long links A, whereas Figure [shows a fabric of a width equal to four times the length of link A. It will be understood that fabrics of any desired length and width can be made.

In Figures 1 and 3, R1 indicates a row of links consisting entirely of links A. Rows R1 alternate along the length of the fabric with rows R2, each consisting of two B links and one A link, the B horizontal edge is coincident with the top horizontal edge M of the fabric. The semi-hexagonal portion I2 of link A: has its bottom horizontal edge M coincident with the bottom horizontal edge 32 of the fabric.

In Row R2, B1 indicates the top link of this row, A: a long link of the type shown in Figure 5 and B: the bottom link. It will be noted the horizontal edge 26 of the semi-hexagonal portion 20 of link B2 is coincident with the bottom horizontal edge 32 of the fabric. The semi-hexagonal portion 99 of link B: has its horizontal edge 23 in substantial abutment with the horizontal edge I of link A3 to form a regular hexagonal portion 33 of the same size and shape as hexagonal portion l0.

The semi-hexagonal portion H of link A: has its horizontal edge i3 in abutment with the horizontal edge 24 of semi-hexagonal portion 20 of link B1 producing another regular hexagonal portion 33. The top edge of the semi-hexagonal portion IQ of ling B1 is coincident with the top edge 3| of the fabric.

In Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, hexagonal portions produced by the abutment of two semihexagonal portions of contiguous links in rows R1 are indicated by 30; such hexagonal portions in rows R2 are indicated by 33. The horizontal joints in each such hexagonal portion, i. e., the line of jointure between the abutting semihexagonal portions, are indicated by 34.

From the above it is evident each of the rows R1 consists of a top and bottom semi-hexagonal portion l I, I2 respectively and intermediate hexagonal portions l0 and 30 equally spaced from each other. Each of the rows Ra consists of top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions l9 and 20 and hexagonal portions 33 and I0 equally spaced from each other. It will be noted link A3 of each row R is staggered relative to links A1 and A; of each row R1; hence the horizontal joint 34 in row R1 occurs opposite the transverse median of the hexagonal portion In of link A: and the horizontal joints 34 in row R2 are positioned opposite the transverse median of hexagonal portions ill of links A1 and A: of each row R1.

Contiguous rows of links R1, R2 are joined by connectors C. Each connector, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is disposed with the sides of its hexagonal portion 25 abutting the sides of the hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portions of contiguous rows. The transversely extending arms 28, .29 of each connector are folded as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to envelop the connector bars l5, 16, fl, l8, 2|, 22 as the case may be of contiguous links in contiguous rows. Thus, for example as shown in Figure 3, connector 0 at the top left-hand corner of this figure has its laterally extending connector arm 28 folded about connector bar l5 of link A1 and its laterally extending connector arm 29 folded about connector bar 2| of link B1; The next connector C in the horizontal row of connectors C at the top of this figure similarly joins top link B1 in row R2 with link A in the next row R1 to the right viewing Figure 3. Thus the connector C in the top row of Figure 3 joins the link B1 to link A1 of the next row R1 etc. In the next horizontal row of connectors C, one connector joins the lower portion of link A1 of row R1 to the upper ortion of link A: and the next connector in the row, as shown in Figure 3. Joins the upper portion of link A: in row R2 to the lower portion of link A1 of the next row R1 etc. In the next horizontal row of connectors one connector Joins the upper portion of one link A with the lower portion of a link A in the next vertical row and the next connector joins the lower portion of link A with the upper portion of link A in the next vertical row. Twice as many rows of connectoi's are thus used as the number of links A in row R1.

In the modification of Figure 2. row R1 consists of four A links in abutting relation as hereinabove described in connection with links A1 and A: of Figure 1, the four links being identified by the reference characters A1, A2, A3 and A4. Row R: consists of links B1 and B: at the top and bottom of the row respectively and intervening links A5, A5 and A1 in abutting relationship, i. e.. with little or no appreciable clearance between the edges of contiguous links. The contiguous rows of links are joined together by connector members C as hereinabove described in connection with Figures 1 and 3, the horizontal rows of connectors being indicated by reference characters C, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the links A5, A6 and A1 arestaggered relative to the links A1, A2, A: and A4. Thus the horizontal joints 34 in row R1 occur opposite the transverse median of the hexagonal portions [0 of the links A5, A5, and A7 of the row R2 and the horizontal joints 34 in the row R2 occur opposite the transverse median of the hexagonal portions in of row R1.

The links A, B, and connectors C may be of any desired dimensions depending upon the intended use of the fabric. For use in the production of metal mesh fabric suitable for producing handbags, links A may be approximately in length and 1%" wide at the base and top and links B half as long and of the same width.

It will be noted that in producing the mesh fabric of this invention only two types of links are required, one of which is in fact a half link relative to the other and that these links may be readily joined by connector members to form a flexible fabric. The shape of the links, particularly the hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portions of the links when assembled in rows, indicate the proper positioning of the connectors and facilitate assembly of the links and connectors; it has been found even unskilled labor can readily assemble the links and connectors to produce the fabric of this invention. Due to the fact that each side of each hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portion can move somewhat relative to the abutting side of a contiguous hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portion and due to the staggered arrangement of transverse joints 34 in alternate rows R1 and R2, the fabric is unusually flexible and this flexibility is obtained without impairing the close construction and without introducing weakening influences in the fabric.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted of the said relatively long links consisting of an intermediate hexagonal portion and two semihexagonal portions each of approximately half the size of said intermediate hexagonal portion, equi-spaced therefrom, having a marginal straight edge coincident respectively with the top and bottom edges of said link and connected with the intermediate hexagonal portion by a pair of connector bars; each of said relatively short links consisting of a pair of semi-hexagonal portions joined together by a pair of connector bars and each having a marginal straight edge; the links in each of the first-mentioned vertical rows being disposed with a marginal edge of one link in substantial abutment with a marginal edge of a contiguous link and with the marginal edges of the top and bottom links of said row coincident with the top and bottom edges respectively of said fabric, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions and entervening hexagonal portions, equispaced from each other, in a vertical direction; the links in each of said alternating rows being disposed with the two short links at the top and bottom of said row, with the top and bottom marginal edges of the top and bottom links coincident with the top and bottom edges respectively of said fabric and with the bottom and top marginal edges respectively of the top and bottom links in substantial abutment with the marginal edges of the semi-hexagonal portions of a contiguous long link in the same row, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semihexagonal portions and intervening hexagonal portions equi-spaced from each other; the side edges of said semi-hexagonal portions and of said hexagonal portions of contiguous vertical rows being in substantial abutment; and connector members each consisting of a hexagonal portion having laterally extending arms positioned with the sides of the hexagonal and semihexagonal portions of said links and the connector arms loosely engaging the said connector bars of contiguous links in contiguous rows to permit relative movement between the thus connected links.

2. A mesh fabric of close construction comprising along its length a vertically extending row consisting of all relatively long links alternating with a vertically extending row consisting of two relatively short links and at least one relatively long link the same as the said relatively long links of the first-mentioned row, each of the said relatively long links consisting of an intermediate hexagonal portion and two semihexagonal portions each of approximately half the size of said intermediate hexagonal portion, equi-spaced' therefrom, having a marginal straight edge coincident respectively with the top and bottom edges of said link and connected with the intermediate hexagonal portion by a pair of parallel connector bars; each of said relatively short links consisting of a pair of semihexagonal portions joined together by a pair of parallel connector bars and each having a marginal straight edge; the links in each of the first-mentioned vertical rows being disposed with a marginal edge of one link in substantial abutment with a marginal edge of a contiguous link and with the marginal edges of the top and bottom links of said row coincident with the top and bottom edges respectively of said fabric, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions and intervening hexagonal portions, equi-spaced from each other.

hexagonal portions of a contiguous long link in the same row, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions and intervening hexagonal portions equi-spaced from each other, alternate intervening hexagonal portions from top to bottom of said row having transverse joints; the side edges of said semihexagonal portions and of said hexagonal portions of contiguous vertical rows being in substantial abutment and the said transverse joints in one row being staggered relative to those in a contiguous row; and connector members each consisting of a hexagonal portion having lateral- 1y extending arms positioned with the sides of the hexagonal portions in substantial abutment with the sides of said hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portions of said links and the connector arms loosely engaging the said connector bars of contiguous links in contiguous rows to permit relative movement between the thus connected links.

3. A metal mesh fabric of close construction having substantially parallel sides comprising along its length a vertically extending row consisting of all relatively long links alternating with a vertically extending row consisting of two relatively short links and at least one relatively long link the same as the said relatively long links of the first-mentioned row, each of the said relatively long links consisting of an intermediate regular hexagonal portion and two semi-hexagonal portions each of approximately half the size of said intermediate hexagonal portion, equi-spaced therefrom, having a marginal straight edge coincident respectively with the top and bottom edges or said link and connected with the intermediate hexagonal portion by a pair of parallel connector bars; each of said relatively short links consisting of a pair of semi-hexagonal portions joined together by a pair of parallel connector bars and each having a marginal straight edge and of a size approximately half that of said relatively long links; the links in each of the first-mentioned vertical rows being disposed with a marginal edge of one link in substantial abutment with a marginal edge of a contiguous link and with the marginal edges of the top and bottom links of said row coincident with the top and bottom edges respectively of said fabric, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions and intervening regular hexagonal portions, equi-spaced from each other in a vertical direction, alternate intervening hexagonal portions from top to bottom of said row having transverse joints; the links in each of said alternating rows being disposed with the two short links at the top and bottom of said row. with the top and bottom marginal edges of the top and bottom links coincident with the top and bottom edges respectively of said fabric and with the bottom and top marginal edges respectively of the top and bottom links in substantial abutment with the marginal edges of the semi-hexagonal portions of a contiguous long link in the same row, thereby producing in said row top and bottom semi-hexagonal portions and intervening regular hexagonal portions equi-spaced from each other, alternate intervening hexagonal portions from top to bottom of said row having transverse joints; the side edges of said semi-hexagonal portions and of said hexagonal portions of contiguous vertical rows being in substantial abutment and the said transverse joints in one row being staggered relative to those in a contiguous row; and connector members each consisting of a hexagonal portion having laterally extending arms positioned with the sides of the hexagonal portions in substantial abutment with the sides of said hexagonal and semi-hexagonal portions of said links and the connector arms loosely engaging the said connector bars of contiguous links in contiguous rows to permit relative movement between the thus connected links.

HARRY REINSTEIN.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

